Hello!

My name is Lily-Sue, but my mummy calls me Munchkin (or 'Munch' for short!) I am 8 years old, and this is where my mummy will help me write all about all the fun things we do together. I hope you enjoy reading about the adventures of my mummy and me, Munchkin, with the occasional appearance from the siblings - Beastie and Plumlet.

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Dressing up for World Book Day - Review

Celebrating World Book Day 2013 with ...

Homes, schools, nurseries and families everywhere are getting themselves ready for another World Book Day this month. Thursday, 7th March sees the return of the popular, widely celebrated day on which we share an appreciation and love for books and stories from all genres and create enough exposure each year to ensure that anyone who is not familiar with the tradition ends the day knowing exactly what World Book Day is all about.

On World Book Day, we recognise everything to do with books. From authors and illustrators to the love of reading and is the perfect day to encourage our little (and not so little!) ones to pick up a book and enjoy what is inside it. 2013 is the 16th year that World Book Day has been a celebrated occasion, and it is acknowledged in 100 countries around the world!

"The main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own."

National Book Tokens Ltd send out millions of vouchers to schools across the countries (including registered, participating nurseries) enabling each child under the age of 18 years to purchase a book of their own, encouraging them to look at the books available and to make an independent choice about the books that they like. They can take their voucher to a local bookseller and can use it to pick one of EIGHT (exclusive, new and completely free) books. Or, if they’d rather, they can use it to get £1 off any book or audio book costing over £2.99 at a participating bookshop or book club (terms and conditions apply).

Just a few weeks ago, we blogged about Munchkin's love of books and her need for a daily bedtime story. She has always loved books and enjoys sharing a story with us and Beastie. We have watched this passion in her blossom even more this year as she has started Nursery and looks forward to Story Time every day. We have (secretly) listened to her reciting her favourite stories from nursery whilst she is sitting quietly in her room, and many mornings I have stood silently with my ear to her bedroom door as I hear her telling stories to her favourite bear, Fudgy. It certainly is one of the very best sounds in the world!

Munchkin and I sat down last weekend and talked about World Book Day. I'm not entirely sure exactly how much she understands about it at the moment, but she never needs an 'excuse' to pick up a story book! We talked about it being a day for reading your favourite books and, for now, have made it a day to read something new. Therefore, on Thursday, Munchkin and I will be looking for all sorts of new reading materials. I will encourage her to notice text all around her, from story books, to the leaflets that are posted through the door. As she is just 3 years old, I would just like her to recognise text in as many forms as possible. I feel that this is good preparation for her learning to read independently.

We were contacted by the lovely Simply Fancy Dress, and introduced to their wonderfully extensive selection of fancy dress costumes. They really do have something for everyone! Costumes for adults, for kids, for teens, for dedicated occasions, accessories, footwear, wigs, and all at great prices! We were invited to look through their range of World Book Day costumes and asked to select something that Munchkin would like. Now, this was a lovely offer, but as I sat on the sofa with Munchkin and the laptop and we started to scroll through the costumes available, I realised I may have made a mistake. Munchkin mentally purchased half of the costumes on this section of the easy to navigate website! In fact, she 'wanted' pretty much every outfit that was even slightly pink! Munchkin absolutely loves dressing up, and can usually be found skipping around the Munchkin Patch in some creative combination of outfits and accessories that she's pulled out of her wardrobe. I was told recently too that at nursery, she is a huge fan of the Dressing Up corner, and has participated in all sorts of make-believe play.

This was a tough decision to make! There are so many wonderful costumes to choose from on the website. Surprisingly, there were a number of costumes that were not pink which made it towards the top of Munchkin's shortlist ...

... And a number that were very pink ...

I will admit to trying to steer her towards the Gruffalo costume, but although this is one of her favourite stories, the princess in her took over and made her decision for her. Here is what she chose ...

This is the Rainbow Princess Costume which is available through Simply Fancy Dress for £21.49. I have to say, I was really really impressed with the quality of this costume. With a lovely, triple layered skirt consisting of a soft layer close to the skin, which is covered in a white netted skirt, and finished off with the top layer which is delicate, netted pink, blue and yellow overlay which creates the pretty rainbow effect. The skirt and the top half of the dress are decorated with a golden braided trim and completed with golden adornments. The outfit also boasts big 'princess style' puffed sleeves to complete this truly Royal outfit which really is fit for a princess! The dress is actually heavier than I anticipated it would be, meaning that it 'hangs' beautifully, even on Munchkin who is shorter than most 3 year olds!

Ok, so it is a little long on her, but this is not a problem as Munchkin, in traditional princess fashion, has mastered the art of elegantly lifting the front of the skirt off of the floor to prevent any 'tripping' accidents. After all, floor-bound nose dives are so unladylike!!

This costume from Simply Fancy Dress includes the dress only. The tiara you see in the photos here is Munchkin's own. She simply refused to be photographed in her new dress without it! Again, in true 'princess' fashion!! However, we think it sets the costume off beautifully. There are a number of pretty, sparkly tiaras and other accessories also available on the website.

This particular costume is available for ages 3-10 years and can be purchased in three different sizes: Small (3-4 years), Medium (5-7 years) or Large (8-10 years) and the price is the same for all 3 sizes. Why don't you take a look for yourself. If you are looking for a fancy dress costume fora special occasion, or simply wanting to add something the kids will adore to their dressing-up collection, Simply Fancy Dress are bound to have something you'll love. And with their easy to navigate website and ultra-friendly customer service, I would recommend this company and their products to anyone!

Now I am going to bring this post to an end, and finish it with some pretty photos of Munchkin in her Rainbow Princess costume. Why ...? Because I can, and because I want to cherish these moments. Our babies grow up so so fast, and there are only so many years that I will get to enjoy watching her dancing around, pretending to be a real princess, so whilst I can enjoy them. I'm gonna do just that!

We were sent the Rainbow Princess costume, free of charge, for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions are 100% my own and have not been influenced in any way!